As myself and my three Fox Road Trip blogging partners head from destination to destination along the West Coast we’ve had the opportunity to stay at quite a few hotels. And with that we’ve gained quite an expertise in what makes a great hotel for the traveling road tripper.
And so, I’ve created a list of 10 categories that hotels can be outstanding at. Of these ten, I pick out the three that each hotel knocks out of the park and I’ll tell you a little bit about why they really stood out to us.
Today, we’re going to look at Napa Valley’s very own River Terrace Inn, a beautiful spot just blocks from the quaint historical downtown and a few miles from the rolling hills and beautiful valleys that make up the vineyards of what I have to say is one of America’s most prized possessions.
The Ten Categories are as follows:
1.) THE LOCATION: Is it in a convenient location in terms of the town’s attractions?
2.) THE AMBIANCE: How’s the hotel condition? What’s the vibe? Is it depressed and tired or happy and welcoming? How does it make you feel when you’re inside of it?
3.) CLEANLINESS: How clean are the rooms? Is there nasty stuff in the sink or hairs in the bed upon arrival? Is the mirror spotless and is the bed made with right angles in every corner possible?
4.) HOTEL SERVICE: Is the staff nice, welcoming, and helpful? Or do they give the vibe that the guest is just a pain in the butt?
5.) PERKS THAT SAY WE LOVE OUR GUESTS: What extra good stuff does the hotel offer? Is it a delicious breakfast in the morning? A free shuttle ride downtown? Is there a workout room or a pool? A free happy hour?
6.) THE OTHER GUESTS: Is the hotel more suited for the traveling business man, the family on vacation, the budget traveler, the luxury traveler, or the road tripping social media addicts 
7.) WORK AREAS: As a writer and entrepreneur, it’s important for me to have areas in the room to do work (aka..desk area) and a nice lobby with mixed used space to plug in.
8.) FLEXIBILITY: All guests need certain extra little things… late check-outs, early check-ins, bag storage, cab assistance etc.
9.) BREAKFAST: This is the most important meal of the day!!! Is the hotel helping us make the most of our day and health?
10.) WELL-ROUNDED-REVIEW: Overall, on a scale of 1-10 how was the hotel based on all the categories.
THE TOP 3 for the RIVER TERRACE IN OF NAPA VALLEY:
NUMBER ONE: NAPA AMBIANCE
Upon walking into the hotel you’re greeted with a wide open lobby that stretches from the entry way to the back patio where there are tables and a large fire pit. Unfortunately I never got around to relaxing by the fire with a chilled beer, but I definitely could envision myself doing it! Just beyond the patio were benches that looked out upon a calm river, perfect for sipping a glass of wine that you can get from the friendly server standing behind the beautiful, dark wood bar.
The lobby itself is meant for relaxing. In fact, after we finished our Wine Train tour (which was fabulous by the way!) I fell asleep for an hour in what I will always remember as the most comfortable chair I’ve ever napped in. (Yes, I know lobbies aren’t meant for this… the rooms we stay in are… but I just couldn’t help myself!)
The ambiance of this hotel was exactly what I’d imagine of a Napa Valley getaway: relaxing, welcoming, and sophisticated in a leisurely way… the exact kind of place where having a few glasses of Napa’s best reds and whites.
NUMBER TWO: LOCATION – THE HEART OF NAPA
The River Terrace in is a half a mile away from the historical downtown of Napa Valley, a half a mile from the amazing Oxbow Public Market that will remind you of a mall cafeteria that instead of burgers offers wine and artisan cheese, gourmet tacos, organic ice cream, steamed oysters paired with white wine, and a whole lot more.
What about the wine, you ask? I was just getting to that! In a 2 minute walk you’re at the starting station for the world-famous Napa Wine Train Tour (a must do!). You can also take a right out of the hotel and head straight to the winding, hilly roads that lead you through the vineyards if you want to do a little exploring yourself.
The location couldn’t have been better!
NUMBER THREE: A PLACE TO SET UP SHOP – WORK SPACE
I have to say that while this hotel is really perfect for the vacationing couple or family, it served it’s purpose perfectly for me as a writer. The mobile office is crucial!
The desk in the room was fitted with yet another unbelievably comfortable chair and the wireless was flawless. The lobby offered all kinds of tables for work as well as a few couches to relax and get into writing.
And if you’re not a writer, I’d say that you’d rave about the same thing if you’d like to dive into a good book or skim a magazine or just relax with a coffee and chat.
THANKS RIVER TERRACE INN
I definitely plan on heading back to Napa Valley after the #Foxroadtrip is finished, and when I do, I know exactly where I’ll be staying! And while I only highlighted my top three of the ten, I can hands down say that I could have raved about each and every one of them when it comes to this fabulous Napa hotel.
Hotel Images By The Wonderful Nick Naborde
